During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Scotland carried out a series of social experiments, which dealt with an acute housing shortage caused by the sudden increase in the post-war population. Over two decades, thousands of working class families were moved out of slum tenements, from the city of Glasgow, into a series of New Towns, literally modern housing schemes, scattered across the country. 

In 1947, East Kilbride was designated as Scotland’s first New Town, with the aim of bringing together “new methods of production and assembly in order to create dwellings, serving humanity and also reflecting a type of technological progression.”

These New Towns appeared on the outskirts of cities, built to a similar design of access roads, car parks, roundabouts, high rises and shopping malls.  Here was the modernist suburb envisioned by J. G. Ballard or, as described by Billy Connolly, “deserts with windows.” 

For those born and raised into these austere New Towns, myself included, our cultural focus was deflected away from Scotland’s traditional city life, across the water, towards America. Our music was The Velvet Underground, Iggy and The Stooges, The New York Dolls, rather than The Beatles, The Stones, or worse, The Bay City Rollers.  Our literature was Stan Lee’s Marvel Comics and H. P. Lovecraft, instead of Enid Blyton and Sherlock Holmes. Our entertainment The Man From U.N.C.L.E and Charlie’s Angels.  Such American influences inspired East Kilbride’s The Jesus and Mary Chain, and The Late, Late Show host, Cumbernauld’s Craig Ferguson.

Now from Cumbernauld come Hedgefund, a band consisting of Flatchi Annie (guitar), Fleabag Jones (vocals and bass), Chris Eubase the Third (drums), who owe more to The Cramps, surf and thrash, B-Movies, computer games and even Anime, than to any Scot’s tradition.  Here is their latest single Frankenhooker, and their first release BwwwvvvvH!

‘Nuff said?